June 24, 2014

The 5 Best Apps for Exploring Cape Town

Get connected with Cape Town when you pick up these 5 free apps and begin your adventure that much more adeptly:

Take breathtaking panoramas using Photosynth, image courtesy of Diego Zang)

1. EveryTrail

Using GPS, EveryTrail creates an easy-to-read map as you explore, providing street names, a compass, audio guides and useful Points of Information. Over 400,000 people have tracked their adventures on EveryTrail, so using these guides (e.g. A Photographers Tour of Cape Town), you can follow in their footsteps through Cape Town's most beautiful locations and local secrets.

3. Walking Tour of Central Cape Town

Explore the city on your own terms and get your walk on! With zero data charges (it's permanently available once downloaded) the app offers more than 60 points of interest with sound clips that play automatically as you near your destination. It's got a handy search function and it's content is periodically updated. A Walking Tour of Central Cape Town also provides contact info, pictures and audio clips for the Mother City's most beloved restaurants, museums and historical attractions.

4. Instagram

The immensely popular Instagram uses a variety of easy-to-use filters to make ordinary photos look artistic. It's a one stop shop for making your Capetonian discoveries even more spectacular and your friends super-jealous of how ridiculously good looking you are. Instagram is also one of the world's largest social media networks, allowing you to follow the photo-feeds of your favourite people and brands. Don't forget to follow Cape Town Tourism whilst you're at it!

5. WhatsApp

You can find most of Cape Town on WhatsApp, an internet based messenging service that allows you to send pics, text or videos to anyone in the world. Just add their number to your contacts! It also allows you stay in touch with international friends and family, with near-instantaneous communications and the ability to set up group conversations. Whatsapp is a great place to stay in touch with your fellow adventurers and the amazing people you meet on your journey,